Dispensing aperture for wipes

ABSTRACT

There is provided a method of use and a canister closure member configured to selectively enclose a canister containing a continuous web of we towelettes defining individual wet towelettes by a plurality of perforations so that the web of towelettes can be separated into individual sheets. The canister closure member includes a dispensing structure and a single wipe dispenser structure defined in the dispensing structure. The single wipe dispenser includes three fingers defined in the dispensing structure. The fingers define a dispensing orifice with the three fingers configured to prevent more than one individual sheet of towellete to exit the canister. Each finger has a characteristic of flexibility, of sufficient pliability, to allow the towelettes to move through the dispensing orifice and a characteristic of strength sufficient to restrain the towelettes until a single towelette separates from the continuous web at the perforations.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to canister closures, more particularly to a closure that prevents the removal of more than one wet towelette of a continuous web of towelettes from the canister.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wet towelettes, also referred to as wipes, are typically impregnated or saturated with a cleaner or disinfectant, detergent, or similar wetting agents and used in a variety of way. For example, certain wipes are used in cleaning up a child. Wet wipes are also used for cleaning up spills in the kitchen or other food preparation areas. Typically, towelettes are provided in a canister, either as individual wipes or on a continuous web fashioned as a roll. In the later configuration, individual wipes are separated by perforations that are pulled apart by a user when extracting the wipe from the canister. The user would grab an end of the towellete in the canister and pull it up through an aperture defined in the canister closure member to extract a towelette. However, as typically happens, more than one towelette is pulled from the canister before the perforations separate the towelettes from the roll.

Various configurations of canister closures are used but none control removing more than one towelette or wipe from the canister.

The apparatus of the present disclosure must also be of construction which is both durable and long lasting, and it should also require little or no maintenance to be provided by the user throughout its operating lifetime. In order to enhance the market appeal of the apparatus of the present disclosure, it should also be of inexpensive construction to thereby afford it the broadest possible market. Finally, it is also an objective that all of the aforesaid advantages and objectives be achieved without incurring any substantial relative disadvantage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is disclosed a canister closure member configured to selectively enclose a canister containing a continuous web of wet towelettes. The web of towelettes is a series of individual wet towelettes with each individual towelette defined by a plurality of perforations. The perforations allow the continuous web of towelettes to be separated into individual sheets.

The canister closure member defines a central opening and includes a lid configured to selectively close the central opening. The canister closure member includes a dispensing structure and a single wipe dispensing structure defined in the dispensing structure.

The dispensing structure extends into the central opening of the canister closure member and is coupled to an interior wall of the canister closure member.

The single wipe dispenser structure includes three fingers defined in the dispensing structure, with each finger having a first side and a second side, with the sides defined by a continuation of the edge. A dispensing orifice is defined by the second side of each finger, with the dispensing orifice in communication with the central opening and configured to allow the wet towelettes to move through the dispensing orifice. The three fingers are configured to prevent more than one individual sheet of towelettes to exit the central opening. Each finger has a characteristic of flexibility, of sufficient pliability, to allow the towelettes to move through the dispensing orifice and a characteristic of strength sufficient to restrain the towelettes until a single towelette separates from the continuous web at the perforations. The edge is continuous from the interior walls to define each finger.

There is further provided a method of dispensing a single wet towelette from a canister containing a continuous web of wet towelettes. An individual towelette is defined on the continuous web of towelettes by a plurality of perforations. The canister includes a canister closure member having an interior wall that defines a central opening.

The method includes pulling on the web of towelettes through the central opening. The web of towelettes are engaged with a dispensing structure extending into the central opening. The dispensing structure is coupled to the interior wall and includes an edge exposed to the central opening. The dispensing structure defines a single wipe dispenser structure.

The method also includes continuing to pull on the web of towelettes, now restrained by the single wipe dispenser, until an individual towelette separates from the continuous web of towelettes.

The apparatus of the present invention is of a construction which is both durable and long lasting, and which will require little or no maintenance to be provided by the user throughout its operating lifetime. Finally, all of the aforesaid advantages and objectives are achieved without incurring any substantial relative disadvantage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other advantages of the present disclosure are best understood with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a canister closure member coupled to a canister, the canister closure member including a dispensing structure defining a single wipe dispenser;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the canister closure member illustrated in FIG. 1 with a towelette in a dispensing orifice of the single wipe dispenser structure with three fingers engaging the towelette;

FIG. 3 partial perspective view of the canister closure member illustrated in FIG. 1 with a towelette in a dispensing orifice of the single wipe dispenser structure with three fingers engaging the towelette; the towelette moving up to separate it from and illustrating the continuous web of towelette along perforations;

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the single wipe dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the canister closure member illustrated in FIG. 1 illustrating the single wipe dispenser structure defined in the dispensing structure coupled to the interior wall of the canister closure member at two points;

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-section of a canister closure member illustrated in FIG. 5 along the line 6-6, illustrating that the dispensing structure and the single wipe dispenser structure have the same thickness;

FIG. 7 is a perspective top view of a dispensing structure defining a single wipe dispenser structure;

FIG. 8 is a perspective top view of the dispensing structure illustrated in FIG. 7 showing the thickness of the dispensing structure and the single wipe dispenser structure are the same;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the dispensing structure illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the dispensing structure illustrated in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a partial cross-section view of the dispensing structure illustrated in FIG. 9, along the line 11-11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the FIGS. 1-11, FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a canister closure member 102 that includes a dispensing structure 116 defining a single wipe dispenser 120. The canister closure member 102 is coupled to a canister 100. The canister 100 typically is a hollow cylinder closed at one end with the canister closure member 102 configured to close another end of the canister 100. The canister 100 typically includes a continuous web of wet towelettes 110. The wet towelettes typically are impregnated or saturated with a cleaner or disinfectant, detergent, or a similar wetting agent for various uses.

It is know that prior art canister structures provide for movement of wet towelettes from a canister however typically more than one towelette gets pulled through the canister closure member. Such arrangements are expensive because more than one towelette is used.

The canister closure member 102 of the present disclosure defines a central opening 106 and includes a lid 108 configured to selectively close the central opening 106. The canister closure member 102 includes a dispensing structure 116 and a single wipe dispensing structure 120 defined in the dispensing structure 116.

The canister closure member 102 is annular and configured to couple to a canister 100, typically by friction fit or threading. The dispensing structure 116 is coupled to an interior wall 104 of the canister closure member 102. The points of coupling of each end of the dispensing structure 116 with the interior wall 104 of the canister closure member, connected by a straight line, would define a chord of the interior wall 104 circumference. In one embodiment, the dispensing structure 116 and the canister closure member 102 are a single unitary member formed during a molding process, for example injection molding.

The dispensing structure 116 extends into the central opening 106 of the canister closure member 102 and is coupled to an interior wall 104 of the canister closure member 102.

The single wipe dispenser structure 120 is defined in the dispensing structure 116. The single wipe dispenser 120 includes three fingers 124 defined in the dispensing structure 116, with each finger 128 having a first side 130 and a second side 132, with the sides 130, 132 defined by a continuation of the edge 118. The second side 132 of each finger 128 defines a dispensing orifice 142, with the dispensing orifice 142 in communication with the central opening 106. The dispensing orifice 142 is configured to allow the wet towelettes 112 to move through the dispensing orifice 142, with the three fingers 124 configured to prevent more than one individual sheet of towelette 112 to exist the central opening 106. The dispensing structure 116 is coplanar with the single wipe dispenser structure 120.

Each finger 128 has a characteristic of flexibility, of sufficient pliability, to allow the towelettes 112 to move through the dispensing orifice 142. Each finger 128 also has a characteristic of strength sufficient to retain the towelettes 112 until the single towelette separates 112 from the continuous web 110 at the perforations 114. Typically the canister closure member 102 and the dispensing structure 116 are composed of the same material. For a preferred embodiment of the dispensing structure 116, the structure is composed of polyethylene.

Each finger 128 is defined by the first 130 and second side 132 which are coupled together at one end 134 by a semi-circular portion 138 of the edge 118 and extending to another end 13 at a point where the edge reverses direction 140. Each finger 128 has a length that is the distance between each end 134, 136 of the finger 128 with the length of each finger 128 measuring 4.5 to 6.5 mm. With a nominal length being 5.5 mm. Each finger 128 is the same thickness as the dispensing structure 116. The thickness of the dispensing structure 116 is 0.5 mm. to 1.5 mm., with a nominal thickness of 1.0 mm. The width of each finger 128 is in a range of 3-5 mm. as determined by the manufacturer. The specific length and width of each finger 128 is governed by the overall design of the dispensing orifice 142 which preferably is in the range of 4-7 mm. with the distance between the second side 132 of each finger 128 and the dispensing structure 116 being within the range of 0.5 to 5 mm.

The edge 118 of the dispensing structure 116 is continuous and is exposed to the central opening 106. The edge 118 extends from one point of contact with the interior wall 104 continuously to the other point of contact with the interior wall.

The continuous edge 118 defines a lead-in opening 122 aligned with the single wipe dispenser structure 120 and is configured to guide the towelettes 112 into the dispensing orifice 142 from the canister 100 through the central opening 106. It is not necessary to thread the towelette into the dispensing orifice as in the case with some prior art disclosures. The continuous edge 118 further defines a hook 126 proximate the single wipe dispenser structure 120. The hook 126 is configured to prevent the towelettes 112 from returning to the canister 100 once the web of towelettes 110 is in the dispensing orifice 142 and engaged by the three fingers 124. The continuous edge 118 further defines each finger 128 of the single wipe dispenser structure 120.

In a typical operation, a user would pull the towelette 112 from the canister 100 through the central opening 106 and through the dispensing orifice 142 of the single wipe dispenser structure 120. When the web of towelettes 110 is moving through the dispensing orifice 142, the three fingers 124 engage the web of towelettes and applies a restraining force to the web of towelettes 110. As a user continues to pull on the exposed towelettes 112, the force exerted by the user separates the web of towelettes 110 at the perforations 114 with the fingers 124 restraining the web of towelettes 110 at the dispensing orifice 142. The user typically would then close the lid 108 of the canister closure member 102 to again seal the canister 100 of towelettes.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or moveable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or the two components and any additional member being attached to one another. Such adjoining may be permanent in nature or alternatively be removable or releasable in nature.

Although the foregoing description of the present mechanism has been shown and described with reference to particular embodiments and applications thereof, it has been presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiments and applications disclosed. It will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that a number of changes, modifications, variations, or alterations to the mechanism as described herein may be made, none of which depart from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. The particular embodiments and applications were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the mechanism and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the disclosure in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such changes, modifications, variations, and alterations should therefore be seen as being within the scope of the present disclosure as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A canister closure member configured to selectively enclose a canister containing a continuous web of wet towelettes defining individual wet towelettes by plurality of perforations so that the web of towelettes can be separated into individual sheets, the canister closure member defines a central opening and includes a lid configured to selectively close the central opening, the canister closure member comprising: a dispensing structure extending into the central opening and coupled to an interior wall of the canister closure member and including an edge exposed to the central opening; and a single wipe dispenser structure defined in the dispensing structure, the single wipe dispenser comprising: three fingers defined in the dispensing structure, with each finger having a first side and a second side, with the sides defined by a continuation of the edge; and a dispensing orifice defined by the second side of each finger, with the dispensing orifice in communication with the central opening and configured to allow the wet towelettes to move through the dispensing orifice, with the three fingers configured to prevent more than one individual sheet of towelettes to exit the central opening, wherein each finger has a characteristic of flexibility, of sufficient pliability, to allow the towelettes to move through the dispensing orifice and a characteristic of strength sufficient to restrain the towelettes until a single towelette separates from the continuous web at the perforations, and wherein the edge is continuous from the interior wall to define each finger.
 2. The canister closure member of claim 1, further comprising the edge defining a lead-in opening aligned with the single wipe dispenser structure and configured to thread the towelettes into the dispensing orifice from the central opening.
 3. The canister closure member of claim 1, further comprising the edge defining a hook proximate the single wipe dispenser, with the hook configured to prevent the towelettes from returning to the canister.
 4. The canister closure member of claim 1, wherein each finger is defined by the first and second sides coupled together at one end by a semi-circular portion of the edge and extending to another end at a point where the edge reverses direction.
 5. The canister closure member of claim 4, wherein the length of each finger is the distance between each end of the finger.
 6. The canister closure member of claim 5, wherein the length of each finger is 4.5 to 6.5 millimeters.
 7. The canister closure member of claim 4 wherein each finger is the same thickness as the dispensing structure.
 8. The canister closure member of claim 4, wherein the width of each finger is the distance between the first and second side.
 9. The canister closure member of claim 8, wherein the width of each finger is 3 to 5 millimeters.
 10. The canister closure member of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the dispensing structure is 0.5 to 1.5 millimeters.
 11. A method of dispensing a single wet towelette from a canister containing a continuous web of wet towelettes, with an individual towelette defined on the continuous web of towelettes by a plurality of perforations, with the canister including a canister closure member having an interior wall that defines a central opening, the method comprising: pulling on the web of towelettes through the central opening; engaging the web of towelettes with a dispensing structure extending into the central opening, dispensing structure coupled to the interior wall and includes an edge exposed to the central opening, the dispensing structure defines a single wipe dispenser structure comprising: three fingers defined in the dispensing structure, with each finger having a first side and a second side, with the sides defined by a continuation of the edge; a dispensing orifice defined by the second side of each finger, with the dispensing orifice in communication with the central opening and configured to allow the wet towelettes to move through the dispensing orifice, with the three fingers configured to prevent more than one individual sheet of towelettes to exit the central opening, wherein each finger has a characteristic of flexibility, of sufficient pliability, to allow the towelettes to move through the dispensing orifice and a characteristic of strength sufficient to restrain the towelettes until a single towelette separates from the continuous web at the perforations, and wherein the edge is continuous from the interior wall to define each finger; and continuing to pull on the web of towelettes, now restrained in the single wipe dispenser, until an individual towelette separates from the continuous web of towelettes.
 12. The method of dispensing a single wet towelette from a canister of claim 11, with the dispensing structure further comprising a lead-in opening defined by the edge and aligned with the single wipe dispenser structure and configured to thread the towelettes into the dispensing orifice from the central opening.
 13. The method of dispensing a single wet towelette from a canister of claim 11, with the single wipe dispenser structure further comprising a hook proximate the single wipe dispenser, with the hook configured to prevent the towelettes from returning to the canister.
 14. The method of dispensing a single wet towelette from a canister of claim 11, wherein each finger is defined by the first and second sides coupled together at one end by a semi-circular portion of the edge and extending to another end at a point where the edge reverses direction. 